The gas meter is just outside my shack. If I run the shortest ground possible will be close to a gas line. How far should I keep the ground from a gas line? If I put in a ground rod and tie it in to the existing home ground, is it safe to run the wire connecting the two past the gas meter?

The general rule of thumb in lightning protection is to bond to any metalic object within 6 feet. So if you are 6 or more feet away, No problem.If less than 6 feet, I would simply bond to the gas line. (HOWEVER if doing so, I would also take great care to make sure I had a substantial and correctly installed ground system so this bonding did not cause any problem!)I would also try to find out what the gas pipe really is. Older ones were steel. Most all newer ones are plastic. Natural gas that runs to an entire grid? Or propane that runs to a big tank in the yard?

At commercial tower sites, The propane line is bonded to the ground system at the building and tank at both ends, Underground.Note the difference in terminology. You are not "grounding" to a gas line, You are bonding it to the ground system.

When seeking a GOOD grounding source one should not assume anything, else one will be visited by Murphy.In the case of Gas lines and meters, I'd be sure, notassume. Yes, in real life and according to somemunicipal codes all metallic utilities should becommon bonded, but in reality they are'nt. I preferthe electrical neutral ground because they use aneight foot ground rod. I have made me a small trenchon several occasions to bond to it, after I placedmy own 8 foot ground rod and attached to it, closestto my radio equipment. This is too important an issue to ASSUME.Also, paint and plastic coatings do not make a lowresistance ground. Scrape, brush and clean until youachieve bare, shiny copper to bond. I almost forgot, some natural gas systems introducea low negative voltage onto their entire grid toreduce corrosion. Good Luck,Tim

Besides finding out what the gas line is made of, I would also have it 'spotted', i.e. where does it run. Not good form to put a ground rod through any utility line. Most utilities provide this service for free.

"Besides finding out what the gas line is made of, I would also have it 'spotted', i.e. where does it run. Not good form to put a ground rod through any utility line. Most utilities provide this service for free."

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